At least the finish was exciting, with Brad Kesleowski passing Kasey Kahne with eight laps to go. Well it was exciting for Keselowski fans and race fans in general. For Kahne fans? Not so much.

Winning move

Four tires on the last pit stop for Brad Keselowski. It helped his car come to life and pass the leaders.

Best move

Whatever Jason Ratcliff did to Matt Kenseth's car. It was not a good car for two-thirds of the weekend but they landed on an adjustment -- Kenseth wouldn't say what it was -- early in the race and led to his third-place finish.

Worst move

Mark Martin to Stewart-Haas Racing. Not sure why this has been such a struggle for these guys, but Martin has not had a good stretch of races filling in for the injured Tony Stewart. He started 22nd and blew an engine to finish 42nd. He has to be happy he won't be racing this week at Talladega.

Scratch-your-head move

So was that final caution really necessary? It's so hard to tell for those of us who can't see the whole track when we watch a race, and granted, it made the race much more exciting. But it would be nice for television to show it.

Quote of the weekend

"They say you need top-fives to win a championship, but when you're getting beat by the guys in front of you, then we're not good enough flat out. I don't know what to do to be better." -- Kyle Busch, who finished fifth but had Matt Kenseth (third) and Jimmie Johnson (fourth) ahead of him.

Best prediction

"I think it's going to be even harder to pass because of the cooler temperatures and track position is probably going to be the most premium it ever has been at Charlotte." -- Ryan Newman, on Tuesday, on how the race might compare to the one in May.

Blunt answer of the week

"That sucks." -- Jimmie Johnson after learning he now trailed Matt Kenseth by four points in the standings following a race where he felt he should have won.

Best "no comment" of the week

"I don't even know what it's for to be honest with you. I have no idea. I know my current team isn't inviting me and I know that my future team can't." -- Kevin Harvick, who is switching teams after this season, on the test Monday for 2014 cars.

What from the weekend we hope is repeated again

The exciting Nationwide race was one of the best the fans had seen with a great battle between two young drivers (Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson) for second and passes for the lead over the final two dozen laps.

What we hope is never repeated again

Two cautions over the final 244 laps, as there were for the Cup race. When that happens, it means there isn't as much dicing for positions as there should be.

That. Just. Happened

Brad Keselowski did an entire lap under caution with a jack stuck underneath his car. He was penalized for removing equipment from his box but he was going to have to pit again anyway to have the jack removed. The only damage? Just a little body damage to the side skirt.

Last word

"I wanted four and I wasn't leaving until he put lefts on it. If he wouldn't have put four on, I was going to yell and scream like a little kid." -- Brad Keselowski on the decision to take four tires at the end of the race.